Tropfest NZ 2017 Finalists Announced

NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday, February 1st, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tropfest NZ 2017 Finalists Announced

Tropfest New Zealand today announced the 16 talented filmmakers whose films will screen to a live audience and judging panel on February 18 at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth, Taranaki.

The final 16 short films include a diverse range of genres from drama and comedy to mockumentary and animation. “Once again the talent on display at this year’s festival is impressive and the line-up is a colourful mix of films, across genre, with something for everyone on the night!” says Tropfest NZ Festival Coordinator Josie Hunter-Annand.

Festival Founder and Director John Polson describes Tropfest as the perfect playground, “with the right amount of motivation, a clear deadline, and a new Tropfest Signature Item to play with each year. But personally, I believe Tropfest’s greatest benefit to filmmakers is that it’s their opportunity to find their creative collaborators.”

The judging panel for Tropfest NZ will comprise of industry professionals from around New Zealand. “We’ve again secured some great representatives from within the NZ film industry as judges” Hunter-Annand says. “The role of Judge is undertaken in a volunteer capacity and it’s a real testament to the festival that industry greats are happy to volunteer their time and energy.”

This year’s Judges include James Griffin (The Brokenwood Mysteries, Westside, Outrageous Fortune), Geraldine Brophy (Home Movie, King Kong, In My Father’s Den), Karlos Drinkwater (Shortland Street, Spartacus: Blood and Sand) and Angela Littlejohn (Show of Hands, Apron Strings and Separation City).

First prize includes a five-day film immersion trip to LA, sponsored by the New Zealand Screen Association and Motion Picture Association as well as a festival sponsored cash prize of $10,000.

Avalon Film & TV Studios in Wellington are once again putting forward a $10,000 studio package which one lucky finalist will win. Among the other prizes up for grabs on the night is:
• Te Tohu Auahatanga Maori Award, recognising outstanding Maori creativity in film (Sponsored by Nga Aho Whakaari and Te Puni Kokiri) with a $2,500 cash prize.
• Best Use of Visual Effects and Best Animated Film (sponsored by Yoobee School of Design) also with a $2,500 cash prize each.
• Cash prizes of $1000 will also be awarded to category winners for Best Actress, and Best Actor and
• Third prize winner on the night will take away a $500 cash prize.
• This year the People’s Choice Award will be voted for live on the night via a Facebook Poll, and the lucky winner will be announced on the night and receive a $500 cash prize, sponsored by Pic’s Peanut Butter/

Tropfest is free to attend but a gold coin donation can be made on the night.

All the films entered into Tropfest NZ are seven minutes or less and must contain the Tropfest Signature Item (TSI), which for 2017 is ‘FLAME’.

The films and their directors and producers are:

Assistance
Director: Adam Browne (Wellington)
Producers: Adam Browne, Chris Leishman ( & Jordan Soper
Logline: The devolution of humanity comes at the evolution of technology

Encroached
Director: Robert Stannard
Producer: Kennedy Faimanifo (Auckland)
Logline: A loner doll-house innkeeper ladybug prepares dinner for her inanimate guests

Fishman 3: The Casting Tape
Directors: Allan George (Rotorua/Auckland)
Producers: Ben Fowler & Allan George
Logline: An arrogant director is forced to audition actors for the terrible ‘Fishman 3’. Will he swallow his pride, or abandon the b-grade film completely?

High Waisted
Director & Producer: Brad Davison (Auckland)
Logline: A lonely doctor with a crippling dependence crosses the path of an irreverent stolen goods dealer.

My Little Brother
Director & Producer: Anthony Bennett (New Plymouth)
Logline: A young boy’s story of his little brother, the scary internet and a nightmare vision

On Knife Edge
Director: Peter Young (Auckland)
Co-Director: Matthew Quinnell (Hamilton/Auckland)
Producer: Peter Young
Logline: It’s Lucy’s birthday party. An unexpected gift makes for an unexpected celebration.

Pearl
Directors: Simon Schueller (Auckland) & Steven Johnston (Auckland)
Producer: Simon Schueller
Logline: A wife is unsettled when her husband places a picture of his great Aunt Pearl amongst their holiday photos – Pearl doesn’t seem to like it either

Reach
Director: Lucy Timmins (Auckland)
Producers: Lucy Timmins & Paul Olohan
Logline: Help is just out of reach

Remember When Dad Fought a Ghost?
Director: Ryan Knighton (Wellington)
Producer: Gregory Bennett
Logline: Siblings try to find a, last minute gift for their Dad’s 60th & realise memories are the best version of the truth, but not the most accurate

ROADTRIP
Directors: Lauren Porteous (Auckland)
Producer: Greg Smith
Logline: Old flames reunite 16.

Smoko
Director: Ghazaleh Golbaksh (Auckland)
Producers: Ghazaleh Golbaksh & Samuel Christopher
Logline: Two tired and jaded teachers seek relief from the daily grind of their profession with painkillers, vodka and a shared dark sense of humour

Sunshine
Director: Ben Corcoran (Hamilton)
Producers: Andrew Garfield & Ben Corcoran
Logline: After the death of their parents, two sisters must fend for themselves in a
war–torn 1950’s New Zealand

Tears of Valhalla
Director: David Allen (Wellington)
Producers: Stephanie Sinclair & David Allen
Logline: A young Viking girl is thrust into becoming a warrior to carry on her clan’s heritage, but is confronted with challenges to bring peace

The Anniversary
Directors & Producers: Mary Rinaldi (Hamilton) & Sasha Nixon (Hamilton)
Logline: A couple sharing their special anniversary have an unexpected night of fun and silliness

The Classified
Directors & Producers: Luke & Kirk Bremner (Dunedin/Auckland)
Logline: A man has a once-in-a-lifetime encounter after answering a classified ad...

Xenophobia
Director: Nicola Peeperkoorn (Auckland)
Producers: Steve Sachs & Nicola Peeperkoorn
Logline: Two strangers, a human and an alien, learn about their differences and deceptions. Lauren Porte

Tropfest attendance guide – everything you need to know!
WHEN: Saturday February 18, 2017.

WHERE: TSB Bowl of Brooklands – entrances are via Brooklands Park Drive, The Racecourse (via Saddle Row), Pukekura Park Dell and Kaimata St.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Tropfest is free! However a voluntary koha/donation at the entrance would be appreciated
• The Seaside markets will be at Tropfest!
SCHEDULE:
• Gates open and market stalls and food vendors from 4pm
• Films screen from 6.30pm
• Awards ceremony at 9.30pm

WHAT TO BRING:
• Sunblock
• Picnic blanket
• Food and drink
• A jacket for when the sun goes down
• Cash for the food and retail stalls

FOOD & ALCOHOL
• Festival goers are welcome to bring picnics into the festival site. Alcohol will not be sold on-site but the event is BYO with a limit of four standard drinks per person. Security will demonstrate zero tolerance for drunken and disorderly behaviour.

PARKING
• Brooklands Park Drive will be closed to vehicles
• The Saddle Row entrance via the Racecourse and Coronation St has parking, however this is limited.
• Disabled parking will be available on the Gables Lawn, you’ll need to show your mobility parking permit to gain access up Brooklands Park Drive.

ALL FILMS RATED M
Please note all Tropfest NZ films are rated M and are suitable for mature audiences.

About Tropfest
John Polson started the ‘Tropicana Short Film Festival’ (as it was originally known) as an informal short film screening for cast, crew and friends at the Tropicana Cafe in Sydney, Australia. More than 200 people showed up for that first screening and, inspired by the turn out, John decided that a full-fledged short film festival was the next step.

25 years on, the free event is attended by a live audience of around 150,000 film-lovers in Australia and the Festival has staged standalone competitions in New Zealand, South East Asia, the Middle East and the United States.

In the past two decades, Tropfest has become recognised as one of the world's most exciting launchpads for talented filmmakers. Tropfest is also known for securing the support of some of the biggest names in the international film community including Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Geoffrey Rush, Liev Schreiber and Tobey Maguire.

The Tropfest YouTube Channel
Past Finalist films can be viewed at Tropfest’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TropfestNZ The channel has over 113,000 views.

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